storage

Abstract

To provide a storage house that can determine with high accuracy the entering and the leaving of items to and from a storage room with a revolving door and a storage room with a drawer door based on the difference in the characteristics between the two rooms.SOLUTION: Storagehouse that has both storage room with a revolving door and storage room with a drawer door is provided with an antenna inside the storage house that is used to determine whether RFID tag is inside or outside the storagehouse, an antenna outside the storage house that is used to determine whether RFID tag is inside or outside the storagehouse, an antenna for entering where the RFID tag is held when items are entering the storage room with a drawer door and an antenna for leaving where the RFID tag is held when items are leaving the storage room with a drawer door.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0004] , , , ,

[0005] , , , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage.

Background Art

[0002] In order to reduce food loss due to excessive in-home inventory of food ingredients, a food ingredient management system has been proposed in which RFID (Radio Frequency Identifier) tags are attached to food ingredients stored in the kitchen, and inventory management is performed based on the tag IDs. For example, Patent Document 1 describes "a refrigerator that stores food with an RF-ID tag recording food information therein, having an RF-ID tag reader inside the refrigerator or both inside and outside the refrigerator" (Claim 1). Further, Patent Document 1 also describes that "the operator can simply place the package with the RF-ID tag inside the refrigerator or, if the RF-ID tag reader / writer is on the front door of the refrigerator, just hold it in front of the refrigerator" (paragraph 0010).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a storage such as a refrigerator, food ingredients contained in metal containers such as cans and aluminum vapor deposition bags are also stored. However, when a general-purpose RFID tag is brought close to a metal container, the characteristics of the antenna provided in the RFID tag deteriorate, and there is a problem that the RFID tag cannot be read by a reader / writer (the first problem). In addition, food ingredients stored in a storage often contain moisture, and due to the attenuation of radio waves by the moisture of this food ingredient, there is a problem that the RFID tag cannot be read by a reader / writer (the second problem).

[0005] Furthermore, the inventors' investigation revealed the following issues. Some household refrigerators have both a revolving door storage compartment and a drawer door storage compartment. In such refrigerators, the vegetable compartment and freezer compartment are generally located in the drawer door storage compartment. This is to prevent air from escaping from the storage compartment and to improve convenience such as ease of storage. However, the number of shelves in the drawer door storage compartment is relatively small compared to the revolving door storage compartment, and because storage is performed downwards, food items tend to be stored in close contact with each other compared to the revolving door storage compartment where storage is performed horizontally. Therefore, it is thought that the first and second issues mentioned above are more pronounced in the drawer door storage compartment compared to the revolving door storage compartment.

[0006] On the other hand, the technology described in Patent Document 1 is intended solely for inventory management of food stored in a revolving door storage room using antennas installed inside and outside the revolving door storage room.

[0007] The objective of the present invention is to provide a storage unit that can accurately determine the entry and exit of goods into each storage compartment based on the differences in characteristics between the revolving door storage compartment and the drawer door storage compartment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention provides a storage facility comprising a revolving door storage room, which is a storage room equipped with a revolving door, and a drawer door storage room, wherein the storage facility comprises an internal antenna provided inside the storage facility and used to determine whether an RFID tag is inside or outside the storage facility, an external antenna provided outside the storage facility and used to determine whether an RFID tag is inside or outside the storage facility, an entry antenna to which the RFID tag is scanned when the storage facility enters the drawer door storage room, and an exit antenna to which the RFID tag is scanned when the storage facility exits the drawer door storage room. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a storage facility that can accurately determine the entry and exit of items into each storage compartment based on the differences in characteristics between the revolving door storage compartment and the drawer door storage compartment. Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be clarified by the following description of embodiments for carrying out the invention. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Bird's-eye view showing the structure of the storage facility according to Example 1 [Figure 2] Flowchart showing the inventory determination operation for the revolving door storage room of the storage facility according to Example 1. [Figure 3A] Flowchart showing the inventory determination operation (when the receiving antenna is held over the drawer door storage compartment) of the storage facility according to Example 1. [Figure 3B] Flowchart showing the inventory determination operation (when the retrieval antenna is held over the drawer door storage compartment) of the storage facility according to Example 1. [Figure 4] An example of a history list related to Example 1 (as of 17:00 on January 2, 2022) [Figure 5A] An example of an inventory list related to Example 1 (as of January 1, 2022, 12:00) [Figure 5B] An example of an inventory list related to Example 1 (as of 13:00 on January 1, 2022) [Figure 5C] An example of an inventory list related to Example 1 (as of January 2, 2022, 12:00) [Figure 5D] An example of an inventory list related to Example 1 (as of January 2, 2022, 12:02) [Figure 6A] Flowchart showing the inventory determination operation (when the receiving antenna is held over the drawer door storage compartment) of the storage facility according to Example 2. [Figure 6B] Flowchart showing the inventory determination operation (when the retrieval antenna is held over the drawer door storage compartment) of the storage facility according to Example 2. [Figure 7] Flowchart showing the inventory determination operation for the revolving door storage room of the storage facility according to Example 3. [Figure 8]Flowchart showing the inventory determination operation for the rotary door storage compartment of the refrigerator according to Example 4 [Figure 9] Flowchart showing the inventory determination operation for the rotary door storage compartment of the refrigerator according to Example 5 [Figure 10] Bird's-eye view showing the structure of the refrigerator according to Example 6 [Figure 11A] Plan view showing the installation positions of the antennas for refrigerator inventory in and out according to Example 7 [Figure 11B] Plan view showing the installation positions of the antennas for refrigerator inventory in and out according to a modification of Example 7 [Figure 12] Plan view showing the installation positions of the antennas for refrigerator inventory in and out according to Example 8 [Figure 13] Bird's-eye view showing the structure of the refrigerator according to Example 9 [Figure 14] Flowchart showing the inventory determination operation for the drawer door storage compartment of the refrigerator according to Example 9 [Figure 15] Bird's-eye view showing the structure of the refrigerator according to Example 10 [Figure 16] Bird's-eye view showing the structure of the refrigerator according to Example 11 [Figure 17] Table showing the relationship between the operation of the inventory antenna and the door state according to Example 11 [Figure 18] Bird's-eye view showing the structure of the refrigerator according to Example 12

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The examples are illustrative for explaining the present invention, and for clarity of explanation, appropriate omissions and simplifications have been made. The present invention can also be implemented in various other forms. Unless otherwise limited, each component may be singular or plural.

[0012] In the mode for carrying out the invention, a refrigerator will be described as an example of the storage, but other storages such as storage shelves and stockers may also be used.

[0013] When there are multiple components with the same or similar function, they may be described using the same symbol but with different subscripts. Furthermore, when it is not necessary to distinguish between these multiple components, the subscripts may be omitted in the description.

[0014] In this specification, a storage room equipped with a revolving door will be referred to as a revolving door storage room, and a storage room equipped with a drawer door will be referred to as a drawer door storage room. [Examples]

[0015] The structure of the storage facility according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figure 1.

[0016] Figure 1 is a bird's-eye view showing the structure of a storage unit according to Embodiment 1. 1a is the refrigerator body, 10 is a revolving door storage compartment provided by the refrigerator body 1a, 11 is the left revolving door for sealing the revolving door storage compartment 10, 12 is the right revolving door for sealing the revolving door storage compartment 10, 20 is the first drawer door storage compartment, 21 is the second drawer door storage compartment, 30 is the third drawer door storage compartment, 40 is the fourth drawer door storage compartment, 100 is the internal antenna, 110a is the external antenna, 200a is the inbound antenna, and 210a is the outbound antenna. In Figure 1, the left revolving door 11 and the right revolving door 12 of the revolving door storage compartment are shown closed, and the first to fourth drawer door storage compartments 20 to 40 are also shown closed. 300a is a switch that has the function of switching the operating timing of the antennas in a time-division manner when the internal antenna 100, external antenna 110a, inbound antenna 200a, and outbound antenna 210a are to be operated on the same frequency channel. This switching function of switch 300a prevents interference between antennas.

[0017] The first drawer-door storage compartment 20 and the second drawer-door storage compartment 21 are installed at the same height, the third drawer-door storage compartment 30 is installed at a lower position than the first drawer-door storage compartment 20 and the second drawer-door storage compartment 21, and the fourth drawer-door storage compartment 40 is installed at a lower position than the third drawer-door storage compartment 30. The revolving door storage compartment 10 is installed at a higher position than the first drawer-door storage compartment 20 and the second drawer-door storage compartment 21. Here, the revolving door storage compartment 10 is a refrigerator compartment, the first drawer-door storage compartment 20 is an ice-making compartment, the second drawer-door storage compartment 21 is a freezer compartment, the third drawer-door storage compartment 30 is a freezer compartment, and the fourth drawer-door storage compartment 40 is a vegetable compartment. Note that the above classification of storage rooms is just one example; the third drawer-door storage room 30 may be a vegetable compartment and the fourth drawer-door storage room 40 may be a freezer compartment.

[0018] The receiving antenna 200a is used to read the RFID tags when a user places food items with RFID tags attached into the second to fourth drawer door storage rooms 21, 30, and 40. The retrieval antenna 210a is used to read the RFID tags when a user retrieves food items with RFID tags attached from the second to fourth drawer door storage rooms 21, 30, and 40.

[0019] The internal antenna 100 is installed on the ceiling inside the revolving door storage compartment 10, the external antenna 110a is installed on the outer front of the drawer door of the first drawer door storage compartment 20, and the inbound antenna 200a and outbound antenna 210a are installed on the outer front of the left revolving door 11, respectively. The height at which the inbound antenna 200a and outbound antenna 210a are installed can be arbitrary, but it is desirable that the centers of the inbound antenna 200a and outbound antenna 210a be located at a height of 120 cm ± 30 cm from the floor on which the refrigerator is installed. The reason why this installation position is desirable is that, assuming the average height of a refrigerator user is 157 cm, the antenna and RFID tag attached to the food item are in a position that is easy to see and easy to hold up to the antenna.

[0020] Furthermore, it is desirable to adjust the height of the center of the receiving antenna 200a or the outgoing antenna 210a from the floor surface where the refrigerator is installed to an arbitrary value that matches the average height of the target users. In addition, it is desirable to set the RFID tag reading area of ​​the receiving antenna 200a and the outgoing antenna 210a to a radius of approximately 5 cm or less in the direction in front of the antenna.

[0021] Next, the inventory management operation according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be explained using Figures 2 to 5.

[0022] Figure 2 shows the system operation flow for inventory management in the revolving door storage room 10, and Figures 3A and 3B show the system operation flow for inventory management in the second to fourth drawer door storage rooms 21, 30, and 40. Furthermore, Figure 3A shows the system operation flow when a user holds an RFID tag over the receiving antenna 200a, and Figure 3B shows the system operation flow when a user holds an RFID tag over the outbound antenna 210a. Figure 4 is an example of a history list 500, and Figures 5A to 5D are examples of inventory lists 510.

[0023] In Figure 2, when at least one of the left revolving door 11 or the right revolving door 12 of the revolving door storage room 10 is opened (step S10), the external antenna 110a and the internal antenna 100 start reading RFID tags (steps S20, S30). When both the left revolving door 11 and the right revolving door 12 are closed (step S40), the RFID tag reading operation by the external antenna 110a and the internal antenna 100 ends (steps S50, S60). Subsequently, an inventory check (step S70) is performed, and the history list 500 is updated based on the result of the inventory check (step S70) (step S80). Furthermore, the inventory list 510 is updated based on the history list 500 (step S90). The series of operations from steps S20 to S70 described above is referred to as flow F10.

[0024] The detailed flow of inventory determination (step S70) is as follows: During the period when the internal antenna 100 and the external antenna 110a are performing RFID tag reading operations, if the internal antenna 100 was the last antenna to read the RFID tag, it is determined that the RFID tag is located inside the revolving door storage room 10. Conversely, if the external antenna 110a was the last antenna to read the RFID tag, it is determined that the RFID tag is located outside the revolving door storage room 10 (steps S71 to S73).

[0025] Next, examples of history list 500 and inventory list 510 will be explained using Figures 4 and 5A-5D.

[0026] Figure 4 shows an example of the history list 500 as of 17:00 on January 2, 2022. The history list 500 includes at least the date and time of inventory determination, the ID of the read RFID tag, the storage location (refrigerated room, freezer, vegetable room, etc.), and whether it was inside or outside the storage area. In the revolving door storage room 10 (refrigerated room), inventory determination is performed each time the revolving door is closed using the internal antenna 100 and the external antenna 110a. Therefore, RFID tags that continue to be stored in the revolving door storage room 10 are read by the internal antenna 100 and inventory determination is performed not only when the same RFID tag is entered into the storage area, but also when other RFID tags enter or leave the revolving door storage room 10. Consequently, time-series information of inventory determination results for the same tag ID is stored in the history list.

[0027] In Figure 3A, when an RFID tag is read by the receiving antenna 200a (step S100), the open status of any of the second to fourth drawer door storage compartments 21, 30, and 40 is checked. If all of the second to fourth drawer door storage compartments 21, 30, and 40 are closed, the reading information of the RFID tag read using the receiving antenna 200a is saved until one of the second to fourth drawer door storage compartments 21, 30, and 40 is opened (steps S110, S120). On the other hand, if one of the second to fourth drawer door storage compartments 21, 30, and 40 is open, the name of the opened drawer door storage compartment (second, third, or fourth) is obtained, and the name of the opened drawer door storage compartment is added to the reading information of the RFID tag read using the receiving antenna 200a (steps S110 to S140). If an open drawer door storage room is closed (step S150), an inventory check is performed (step S160). In the inventory check (step S160), since the RFID tag has been read by the receiving antenna 200a, it is determined that an RFID tag exists in the drawer door storage room, and based on the name of the open drawer door storage room that was assigned to it (step S140), it is determined which of the second to fourth drawer door storage rooms 21, 30, or 40 the RFID tag is in. Based on the result of the inventory check (step S160), the history list 500 is updated (step S80). Furthermore, the inventory list 510 is updated based on the history list 500 (step S90). The series of operations from steps S110 to S160 described above is referred to as flow F20.

[0028] With the above system operation, the user can recognize which of the second to fourth drawer-door storage rooms 21, 30, and 40 the RFID tag has been placed in by holding the RFID tag over the receiving antenna 200a and opening and closing the drawer-door storage room using a single receiving antenna 200a. For example, when placing an RFID tag in the second drawer-door storage room 21, the user holds the RFID tag over the receiving antenna 200a before or while the second drawer-door storage room 21 is open, so the timing of the inventory determination (step S160) is necessarily after the second drawer-door storage room 21 is closed (step S150). The same applies to the third drawer-door storage room 30 or the fourth drawer-door storage room 40.

[0029] In Figure 3B, when one of the second to fourth drawer door storage compartments 21, 30, or 40 is open, and an RFID tag is read by the retrieval antenna 210a (steps S110, S200), the name of the open drawer door storage compartment (second, third, or fourth) is obtained, and the name of the open drawer door storage compartment is added to the reading information of the RFID tag read using the retrieval antenna 210a (steps S210, S220). After a predetermined time has elapsed since the open drawer door storage compartment was closed (step S230), an inventory check is performed (step S240). In the inventory determination (step S240), since the RFID tag has been read by the outbound antenna 210a, it is determined that the RFID tag is located outside the drawer door storage compartment, and based on the name of the open drawer door storage compartment that the RFID tag is located in (step S220), it is determined which of the second to fourth drawer door storage compartments 21, 30, or 40 the RFID tag is located in. Based on the result of the inventory determination (step S240), the history list 500 is updated (step S80). Furthermore, the inventory list 510 is updated based on the history list 500 (step S90). Note that the predetermined time after the above drawer door storage compartment is closed varies depending on how the user uses the refrigerator, so it is desirable to allow the user to set this. The series of operations from steps S210 to S240 above is referred to as flow F30.

[0030] Figure 5A is an example of inventory list 510a as of 12:00 on January 1, 2022. Inventory list 510a includes at least the inventory determination date and time, the ID of the read RFID tag, the storage location (refrigerator, freezer, vegetable compartment, etc.), and the inventory status (received, in stock, shipped). In the history list 500 shown in Figure 4, the RFID tag with tag ID 000000001 is recorded as being present in the refrigerator for the first time at 12:00 on January 1, 2022. Therefore, in inventory list 510a, the inventory status of the RFID tag with the same ID is recorded as received at 12:00 on January 1, 2022.

[0031] Figure 5B is an example of inventory list 510b as of 13:00 on January 1, 2022. In the history list 500 shown in Figure 4, it is recorded that two RFID tags with tag IDs 000000002 and 000000001 were present in the refrigerator at 13:00 on January 1, 2022. For the RFID tag with tag ID 000000002, it is recorded that it was present in the refrigerator for the first time at that time, while for the RFID tag with tag ID 000000001, it is recorded that it was present in the refrigerator for the second time. Therefore, the inventory status of the RFID tag with tag ID 000000002 is recorded as "received" at 13:00 on January 1, 2022. On the other hand, the inventory status of the RFID tag with tag ID 000000001 was recorded as "in stock" at 12:00 on January 1, 2022. In other words, for RFID tags that are continuously stored inside the refrigerator, the date and time when the presence of the RFID tag inside the refrigerator was first recorded (i.e., when the RFID tag was received) is recorded.

[0032] Figure 5C is an example of inventory list 510c as of 12:00 on January 2, 2022, and Figure 5D is an example of inventory list 510d as of 12:02 on January 2, 2022. Similar to the revolving door storage room 10 (refrigerated room), the inventory determination date and time, storage location, and inventory status are recorded for the second to fourth drawer door storage rooms 21, 30, and 40 (freezer and vegetable room) using the recording method explained with Figures 5A and 5B. However, unlike the revolving door storage room 10, RFID tags entering the second to fourth drawer door storage rooms 21, 30, and 40 are read by the user holding them over the entry antenna 200a, so the number of times the inside / outside determination is recorded as inside in the history list 500 is only once. Therefore, in the second to fourth drawer-door storage rooms 21, 30, and 40, it is desirable that the inventory status be changed to "in stock" when the revolving door storage room 10 or the second to fourth drawer-door storage rooms 21, 30, and 40 are opened after the RFID tag inventory check has been performed. Alternatively, the inventory status may be changed to "in stock" when the storage room recorded in the inventory list 510 is opened. Furthermore, it may be possible to allow the user to set when the inventory status should be changed from "received" to "in stock".

[0033] In addition, as shown in Figure 5D, the history list 500 shown in Figure 4 records that the RFID tag with tag ID 000000001 was outside the refrigerator at 17:00 on January 2, 2022. Therefore, the inventory list 510d records the inventory status as "out of stock" at 17:00 on January 2, 2022.

[0034] Although not shown in this embodiment, the system may also include a function to query a database that stores detailed information about the RFID tag ID (manufacturer, product name, expiration date, etc.), and to add or replace the ID details in the inventory list 510 before presenting them to the user. It is desirable that the user be able to configure which of the detailed ID details to display.

[0035] As shown in Figures 2, 3A, and 3B, the three system operations enable inventory management in the revolving door storage compartment 10 simply by the user placing or removing RFID tags (for food items) into or out of the compartment. In the second to fourth drawer door storage compartments 21, 30, and 40, the user's action of holding an RFID tag over the receiving antenna 200a or the retrieval antenna 210a and opening or closing the drawer door storage compartment allows the system to recognize whether food items with RFID tags are inside or outside the refrigerator, and simultaneously recognize which storage compartment they are located in. Furthermore, records using the history list and inventory list shown in Figures 4 and 5A to 5D allow for the acquisition of information on the date and time of receipt, enabling inventory management within the refrigerator compartment.

[0036] Based on the structure and operation of the storage facility described above, the following effects can be obtained in this embodiment. In the drawer door storage room, by having the user hold the RFID tag over the receiving antenna 200a or the receiving antenna 210a, the accuracy of reading the RFID tag can ideally be made 100%, thus improving the accuracy of inventory determination to 100%. In addition, in the revolving door storage room, inventory management can be performed simply by the user placing or removing the RFID tag (or food item with the attached RFID tag) into or from the revolving door storage room, thus not compromising user convenience when storing food items in a refrigerator.

[0037] In this embodiment, the internal antenna 100 was described as being installed on the ceiling of the revolving door storage room 10, but it may also be installed on the side or bottom instead of the ceiling. Furthermore, there may be more than one internal antenna 100.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the timing at which the RFID tag reading operation at the internal antenna 100 and the external antenna 110a is completed was explained using the timing at which both the left revolving door 11 and the right revolving door 12 are closed as an example, but it may also be completed after a predetermined time has elapsed after both doors are closed. Also, the timing at which the RFID tag reading operation at the internal antenna 100 and the external antenna 110a is completed may be different. For example, in order to improve the accuracy of inventory determination of RFID tags stored in the revolving door storage room 10, it is desirable that the timing at which the RFID tag reading operation at the internal antenna 100 is completed is later than that at the external antenna 110a. Conversely, in order to improve the accuracy of departure determination of RFID tags that have been taken out of the revolving door storage room 10, it is desirable that the timing at which the RFID tag reading operation at the external antenna 110a is completed is later than that at the internal antenna 100.

[0039] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first drawer-door storage compartment 20 is assumed to be an ice-making compartment for storing ice produced by the refrigerator body 1a. Since inventory management with RFID tags is not required for the ice stored in the ice-making compartment, it is excluded from the storage compartments where inventory management is performed. However, it is also permissible to perform the same inventory management as the other drawer-door storage compartments.

[0040] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the inventory list 510 is shown to have three types of inventory states: incoming, outgoing, and in stock. However, it may also have only two types: incoming (or in stock) and outgoing.

[0041] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the inventory determination date and time recorded in the inventory list 510 is the date and time when the RFID tag was placed in the refrigerator, but it may also be the date and time when the most recent inventory determination was performed. In addition, it may be possible to allow the user to change the date and time to be recorded. [Examples]

[0042] The operation of the storage unit according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figure 6.

[0043] Figure 6A shows the system operation flow for inventory management in the second to fourth drawer door storage rooms 21, 30, and 40 when an RFID tag is read by the receiving antenna 200a, and Figure 6B shows the system operation flow for inventory management in the second to fourth drawer door storage rooms 21, 30, and 40 when an RFID tag is read by the outgoing antenna 210a.

[0044] In Figure 6A, the system operation flow in which flow F20 is executed when an RFID tag is read by the receiving antenna 200a (step S100) is the same as in Figure 3A described in Example 1. After flow F20 is executed, if the inventory list 510 contains the tag ID included in the RFID tag reading information by the receiving antenna 200a, and the record in the inventory list 510 is either a receipt or inventory, the system determines that the user mistakenly held the RFID tag over the receiving antenna 200a instead of the outbound antenna 210a, and notifies the user of an alert (steps S300, S310). On the other hand, if the inventory list 510 does not contain the tag ID included in the RFID tag reading information by the receiving antenna 200a, or if the record in the inventory list 510 is not a receipt or inventory, the history list 500 is updated, and the inventory list 510 is further updated (steps S300, S80, S90).

[0045] In Figure 6B, when one of the second to fourth drawer door storage compartments 21, 30, or 40 is open, and an RFID tag is read by the outbound antenna 210a (steps S200, S210), the system operation flow in which flow F30 is performed is the same as in Figure 3B described in Example 1. After flow F30 is performed, if the inventory list 510 contains a tag ID included in the RFID tag reading information by the inbound antenna 200a, and the record in the inventory list 510 is either inbound or in stock, the history list 500 is updated, and the inventory list 510 is further updated (steps S300, S80, S90). On the other hand, if the inventory list 510 does not contain a tag ID included in the RFID tag reading information from the receiving antenna 200a, or if the record in the inventory list 510 is neither an incoming nor an inventory item, the system determines that the user mistakenly held the RFID tag over the outgoing antenna 210a instead of the receiving antenna 200a, and notifies the user of an alert (steps S300, S310).

[0046] In this embodiment, by notifying the user of the mistake of holding the RFID tag over the receiving antenna 200a even though the user is performing an outbound operation, the user can be prompted to perform the correct operation again (holding the tag over the outbound antenna 210a), thereby improving the accuracy of inventory determination. Furthermore, by notifying the user of the mistake of holding the RFID tag over the outbound antenna 210a even though the user is performing an inbound operation, the user can be prompted to perform the correct operation again (holding the tag over the receiving antenna 200a), thereby improving the accuracy of inventory determination.

[0047] Furthermore, if the antenna pointed at by the user is correct, the system may include a function that allows the user to forcibly confirm the inventory determination result after receiving an alert notification. In this case, the user can double-check the inventory determination result, which can further improve the accuracy of inventory determination. [Examples]

[0048] The operation of the storage unit according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figure 7.

[0049] Similar to Example 1, the storage facility of this embodiment has an inventory management method for the second to fourth drawer-door storage compartments 21, 30, and 40, which involves the user holding an RFID tag over the receiving antenna 200a or the receiving antenna 210a. On the other hand, for the revolving door storage compartment 10, inventory management is performed using the internal antenna 100 and the external antenna 110a, so the inventory management method does not involve the user holding an RFID tag over the antenna. However, it is conceivable that the user may hold an RFID tag over the receiving antenna 200a or the receiving antenna 210a when loading or unloading food products into or out of the revolving door storage compartment 10. The storage facility of this embodiment has a function that accommodates such user actions.

[0050] Figure 7 shows the system operation flow for inventory determination in the revolving door storage room 10 when the revolving door is opened. In Figure 7, if one or more of the left revolving door 11 or the right revolving door 12 of the revolving door storage room 10 are opened, the aforementioned flow F10 is performed (step S10, flow F10).

[0051] In parallel, if the RFID tag is read by the receiving antenna 200a, the aforementioned flow F20 is performed (step S10, step S100, flow F20). However, the aforementioned flow F20 assumes that the RFID tag is held over the receiving antenna when the item is placed into the drawer door storage compartment. Therefore, when performing flow F20 in this embodiment, the operations related to the drawer door in the aforementioned flow F20 are replaced with operations related to the revolving door.

[0052] Furthermore, if the RFID tag is not read by the receiving antenna 200a but is read by the outgoing antenna 210a, the aforementioned flow F30 is performed (steps S10, S100, S210, and flow F30). However, the aforementioned flow F30 assumes that the RFID tag is held over the outgoing antenna when it is taken out of the drawer door storage compartment. Therefore, when performing flow F30 in this embodiment, the operations related to the drawer door in the aforementioned flow F30 are replaced with operations related to the revolving door.

[0053] If only flow F10 is performed, if both flow F10 and flow F20 are performed, or if both flow F10 and flow F30 are performed, the inventory determination result is arbitrated (step S400). Furthermore, the history list 500 is updated, followed by the inventory list 510.

[0054] Step S400 is explained in detail. If only flow F10 is performed, step S400 selects the inventory determination result generated in flow F10. On the other hand, if both flow F10 and flow F20 are performed, the inventory determination result generated in flow F20 is selected, and if both flow F10 and flow F30 are performed, the inventory determination result generated in flow F30 is selected. This is to make the inventory determination result easier for the user to understand by prioritizing the user's intention to receive or send out goods by holding the RFID tag over the antenna.

[0055] However, if there is a high risk that the user will unintentionally select the wrong antenna to read the RFID tag, the inventory determination result generated in flow F10 may be selected in any of the above cases. Alternatively, the user may be allowed to configure which inventory determination result to select.

[0056] In this embodiment, when food items with RFID tags attached are brought into or out of the revolving door storage room 10, the user holds the RFID tag over the receiving antenna 200a or the outgoing antenna 210a, and even when the RFID tag is read by the receiving antenna 200a or the outgoing antenna 210a, inventory management in the revolving door storage room 10 is possible. [Examples]

[0057] The operation of the storage unit according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figure 8.

[0058] The storage unit of this embodiment has the following additional functions in addition to the functions described in Embodiment 3, as functions that respond to user actions.

[0059] As shown in Figure 1, the entry antenna 200a is installed on the leading edge of the left revolving door 11 of the revolving door storage compartment 10, and the exit antenna 210a is installed on the hinge side of the left revolving door 11. This antenna arrangement shortens the movement path (the route taken by the food) of food items with RFID tags attached during entry and exit, thereby improving user convenience. In particular, it is estimated that there are more cases of food items moving in and out of the refrigerator in a short period of time during entry than during exit. Specifically, when storing food items in the refrigerator after returning from shopping, users put many food items in the refrigerator in a short time to minimize the time that the food items are exposed to the outside temperature. On the other hand, when taking food items out of the refrigerator for cooking or other purposes, users limit the number of food items they take out to minimize the time that each food item is exposed to the outside temperature. For these reasons, it is desirable that the entry antenna 200a be installed closer to the leading edge of the door than the exit antenna 210a. However, with this antenna configuration, the movement path of the food items overlaps with the RFID tag reading area of ​​the receiving antenna 200a during retrieval. Therefore, there is a possibility that the receiving antenna 200a may read the RFID tag before the user holds it up to the retrieval antenna 210a. In other words, because the movement path of the food items overlaps with the reading area of ​​the receiving antenna 200a, there is a possibility of misreading where the RFID tag is read by the receiving antenna 200a unintentionally.

[0060] Figure 8 shows the system operation flow for inventory determination in the revolving door storage room 10 when the revolving door is open. In Figure 8, the system operation flow consisting of steps S10, S100, and S210 is the same as in Embodiment 3. When an RFID tag is read by the outgoing antenna 210a after it has been read by the receiving antenna 200a (steps S100 and S210), in step S100, a determination is made as to whether the difference between the time the RFID tag was read by the receiving antenna 200a and the time the RFID tag was read by the outgoing antenna 210a is within a predetermined time, and at the same time, a determination is made as to whether the tag IDs of the read RFID tags are the same (step S410). If the determination in step S410 is YES, the RFID tag information read by the receiving antenna 200a is presumed to be a misread, meaning the RFID tag was read by the receiving antenna 200a unintentionally, so the RFID tag reading information obtained in step S100 is discarded (step S420). On the other hand, if the determination in step S410 is NO, it is presumed that the user intentionally held the RFID tag over the receiving antenna 200a and the receiving antenna 200a read the RFID tag, so the RFID tag reading information obtained in step S100 is input to flow F20, and the RFID tag reading information obtained in step S210 is input to flow F30 (step S430). The operation flow, consisting of mediation of inventory determination results (step S400), updating of history list (step S80), and updating of inventory list (step S90), is the same as in Example 3.

[0061] In this embodiment, when food items with RFID tags attached are stored in the revolving door storage room 10, the user's movement path for storing the food items can be minimized. This has the effect of not compromising user convenience, even though the user is required to hold the RFID tag over the storage antenna 200a. Furthermore, since misreading of RFID tags due to the movement path of the food items with RFID tags overlapping with the RFID tag reading area of ​​the storage antenna 200a can be prevented, the accuracy of inventory management for the revolving door storage room 10 can be improved.

[0062] If the installation positions of the receiving antenna 200a and the outbound antenna 210a are reversed left and right, the same effect can be achieved by reversing the order of steps S100 and S210, and by creating a system operation flow in which the RFID tag reading information obtained in step S210 is discarded in step S420.

[0063] Furthermore, the receiving antenna 200a and the outgoing antenna 210a may be installed so that they are aligned vertically. In this case, the movement path of food items with RFID tags attached can be further shortened when they are taken out of the revolving door storage room 10, thus maintaining user convenience. In this case, however, since a user may hold the food item with the RFID tag attached and use the handle located at the bottom of the left revolving door 11 of the revolving door storage room 10 to open the door or support the door while it is open, it is desirable that the receiving antenna 200a be positioned lower than the outgoing antenna 210a. This prevents misreading of RFID tags by the outgoing antenna 210a during receiving, thereby improving the accuracy of inventory management for the revolving door storage room 10.

[0064] Furthermore, in this embodiment, flow F40, consisting of steps S410 and S420, was performed before inventory determination, but it may also be performed during the mediation of inventory determination results (step S400). [Examples]

[0065] The operation of the storage unit according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figure 9.

[0066] The refrigerator body 1a has vacuum insulation material placed between the outer and inner boxes and inside the storage compartment door. This material consists of an outer packaging material made of a metal vapor deposition layer with a core material such as glass wool sealed inside. Therefore, radio waves emitted from the internal antenna 100 installed inside the revolving door storage compartment 10 are reflected by the vacuum insulation material. However, since there are parts of the refrigerator body 1a where the vacuum insulation material is not installed, some of the radio waves emitted from the internal antenna 100 may propagate to the second to fourth drawer door storage compartments 21, 30, and 40. The storage compartment in this embodiment has a function to address the case where the internal antenna 100 unintentionally reads RFID tags present in the second to fourth drawer door storage compartments 21, 30, and 40.

[0067] Figure 9 shows the system operation flow for inventory management in the revolving door storage room 10. In Figure 9, if at least one of the left revolving door 11 or the right revolving door 12 of the revolving door storage room 10 is opened (step S10), flow F10 is executed. The inventory determination result generated in flow F10 is compared with the inventory list 510. If a tag ID identical to the tag ID included in the inventory determination result generated in flow F10 exists in the inventory list 510, and the storage location of that tag ID is one of the second to fourth drawer door storage rooms (freezer room or vegetable room), the RFID tag reading information and inventory determination result related to that tag ID included in flow F10 are discarded (steps S500, S510). The operation flow consisting of updating the history list (step S80) and updating the inventory list (step S90) is the same as in Examples 1 to 4.

[0068] In flow F10, only the revolving door storage room 10 is opened, so the storage location of RFID tags located outside the revolving door storage room 10 is not changed. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the in-warehouse antenna 100 reads an RFID tag located in a storage room other than the revolving door storage room 10, it has the effect of improving the accuracy of inventory determination regarding the storage location of RFID tags located in storage rooms other than the revolving door storage room 10. [Examples]

[0069] The structure of the storage facility according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figure 10.

[0070] Figure 10 is a bird's-eye view showing the structure of the storage unit according to Embodiment 6. 110b is an external antenna, which is installed on the top of the refrigerator body 1a, specifically at the front end of the top surface of the outer casing. The rest of the structure and operation are the same as in Embodiment 1.

[0071] In this embodiment, since the external antenna 110b is installed on the refrigerator body 1a, compared to Embodiment 1, in which the external antenna 110a is installed on the drawer door of the first drawer door storage compartment 20, it becomes easier to install the power supply line to the external antenna 110b, resulting in the effect of reducing costs. [Examples]

[0072] The structure of the storage unit according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 11A and 11B.

[0073] Figure 11A is a plan view of the storage unit according to Embodiment 7, viewed from the front, and Figure 11B is a plan view of a modified example of Embodiment 7, viewed from the front. In Figure 11A, 200b is an inlet antenna, and 210b is an outlet antenna. The inlet antenna 200b and the outlet antenna 210b are installed on the outer front of the first drawer-door storage compartment 20. In Figure 11B, 200c is an inlet antenna, and 210c is an outlet antenna. The inlet antenna 200c and the outlet antenna 210c are installed on the outer front of the second drawer-door storage compartment 21.

[0074] In Example 7 and its modified versions, the receiving antenna 200b or 200c and the outgoing antenna 210b or 210c are installed on the outside of the first drawer-door storage compartment 20 or the second drawer-door storage compartment 21. Therefore, when food is being stored in or out of any of the storage compartments, including the revolving door storage compartment 10, the frontal direction of the receiving or outgoing antenna does not change, which has the effect of making it easier for the user to hold an RFID tag over the receiving or outgoing antenna.

[0075] As described in Example 1, food stored in the ice-making compartment does not require inventory management. Therefore, when the storage compartment with the function of an ice-making compartment is set up as the first drawer-door storage compartment 20, the structure shown in Figure 11A is preferable. Conversely, when the storage compartment with the function of an ice-making compartment is set up as the second drawer-door storage compartment 21, the structure shown in Figure 11B is preferable. [Examples]

[0076] The structure of the storage facility according to Embodiment 8 of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figure 12.

[0077] Figure 12 is a plan view of the storage facility according to Embodiment 8, seen from the front. In Figure 12, 200d is an inbound antenna, and 210d is an outbound antenna. The inbound antenna 200d is installed on the outer front of the right revolving door 12 of the revolving door storage room 10, and the outbound antenna 210d is installed on the outer front of the left revolving door 11 of the revolving door storage room 10.

[0078] In this embodiment, when food items with RFID tags attached are stored in the second drawer door storage compartment 21, the path taken by the user to store the food items in the second drawer door storage compartment 21 after holding the RFID tag over the storage antenna 200d does not overlap with the RFID tag reading area of ​​the storage outlet antenna 210d. Therefore, the probability of inventory errors caused by the user unintentionally having the RFID tag read by the storage outlet antenna 210d is reduced. Furthermore, when food items with RFID tags attached are stored out of the second drawer door storage compartment 21, the path taken by the user to store the food items in the second drawer door storage compartment 21 and then hold the RFID tag over the storage outlet antenna 210d (the path the food items take) does not overlap with the RFID tag reading area of ​​the storage antenna 200d. Therefore, the probability of inventory errors caused by the user unintentionally having the RFID tag read by the storage outlet antenna 200d is reduced.

[0079] In this embodiment, the receiving antenna 200d is installed on the outside of the right revolving door 12 of the revolving door storage room 10, and the exiting antenna 210d is installed on the outside of the left revolving door 11 of the revolving door storage room 10, but the positions may be reversed. Furthermore, the user may be allowed to specify which antenna is installed on which door. [Examples]

[0080] The structure and operation of the storage unit according to Embodiment 9 of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figures 13 and 14.

[0081] Figure 13 is a bird's-eye view showing the structure of the storage facility according to Embodiment 9. In Figure 13, 220 is a manual reading antenna (antenna for both inbound and outbound storage), 300b is a switch, and 400 is a microphone for voice recognition. The manual reading antenna 220 is used to read RFID tags when a user places food items with RFID tags attached into the second to fourth drawer door storage rooms 21, 30, and 40, or when retrieving items from the second to fourth drawer door storage rooms 21, 30, and 40, by holding the RFID tag over the antenna. The switch 300b has the function of switching the operating timing of the antennas in a time-division manner when the inbound antenna 100, the outbound antenna 110a, and the manual reading antenna 220 are to be operated on the same frequency channel.

[0082] In Figure 13, the manual reading antenna 220 and microphone 400 are installed on the outer front of the left revolving door 11 of the revolving door storage room 10, but they may be placed in any position that does not interfere with the user's action of holding the RFID tag over the manual reading antenna 220. They may also be placed in any position that makes it easy to acquire the voice emitted by the user.

[0083] Figure 14 shows the system operation flow for inventory management in the drawer-door storage room in Example 9. Figure 14 assumes that the user speaks and then holds the RFID tag over the manual reading antenna 220.

[0084] In Figure 14, the system recognizes that the voice spoken by the user is a pre-registered command voice such as "receive" or "remove" (step S600), and if the RFID tag is read by the manual reading antenna 220 (step S610), the command voice recognition result recognized in step S600 ("receive" or "remove") is added to the RFID tag reading information obtained in step S610 (step S620). If one of the second to fourth drawer door storage compartments 21, 30, or 40 is not open, the RFID tag reading information with the command voice recognition result generated in step S620 is saved until one of the second to fourth drawer door storage compartments 21, 30, or 40 is opened (steps S200, step S120). On the other hand, if any one of the second to fourth drawer door storage compartments 21, 30, or 40 is open, information about the opened storage compartment (second to fourth drawer door storage compartments 21, 30, or 40) is acquired (step S210), and the information about the opened storage compartment is added to the RFID tag reading information to which the command voice recognition result generated in step S620 has been attached (step S220). Furthermore, after the second to fourth drawer door storage compartments 21, 30, or 40 are closed (step S110), if the command voice recognition result obtained in step S600 is "received", an inventory determination is performed (steps S630, S640). On the other hand, if the command voice recognition result obtained in step S600 is "outbound", the system operation from steps S600 to S630 is repeated until a predetermined time has elapsed after the second to fourth drawer door storage compartments 21, 30, and 40 are closed. Once the predetermined time has elapsed, an inventory check is performed (steps S230 and S640). In the inventory check in step S640, if the command voice recognition result obtained in step S600 is "inbound", it is determined that the RFID is inside the refrigerator. Conversely, if the command voice recognition result obtained in step S600 is "outbound", it is determined that the RFID is outside the refrigerator. In addition, the information of the opened storage compartment obtained in step S210 is determined to be the storage location. The operation flow consisting of updating the history list (step S80) and updating the inventory list (step S90) is the same as in Examples 1 to 5.

[0085] In this embodiment, since the presence or absence of an RFID tag inside or outside the storage room can be recognized using the user's voice information, it is possible to reduce the number of antennas. Furthermore, by using only one antenna, cases such as those described in Embodiments 2, 4, and 5, where the user mistakenly holds the RFID tag over the wrong antenna, or where the user unintentionally holds the RFID tag over the wrong antenna, causing the antenna to misread the RFID tag, are eliminated, thus improving the accuracy of inventory determination.

[0086] In this embodiment, the operation described was that the user makes a sound before holding the RFID tag over the manual reading antenna 220. However, it is obvious that the same effect can be obtained even if the RFID tag is held over the manual reading antenna 220 before making a sound, or if the action of holding the RFID tag over the manual reading antenna 220 and making a sound occur at the same time.

[0087] Furthermore, in this embodiment, while the command voices that can be recognized in response to user voices were explained using "receive" or "receive" as examples, any word or phrase may be used. Users may also be allowed to set their own command voices. Additionally, the storage room to which items are received or received may be commanded by voice. For example, if multiple storage rooms such as a refrigerator, vegetable compartment, or freezer are open, being able to identify the target storage room by voice would improve convenience.

[0088] Furthermore, although this embodiment was described assuming that the user issues a voice command of "in" or "out" for each RFID tag, when multiple RFID tags are held over the manual reading antenna 220, the user may issue voice commands such as "in" or "in" all at once. This reduces the number of voice commands issued to RFID tags when multiple food items are in or out in succession, thereby improving user convenience.

[0089] Furthermore, while this embodiment uses voice information to obtain "inbound" or "outbound" information, other means may be used, such as user input using mechanical buttons or touch panels, or detection of user gestures using cameras or capacitive sensors. Alternatively, information on whether the user is holding food items and the direction of the user's hand movement may be detected using cameras or TOF (Time of Flight) sensors, and the user action of "inbound" or "outbound" may be determined from the chronological order of these detection results. [Examples]

[0090] The structure of the storage facility according to Embodiment 10 of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figure 15.

[0091] Figure 15 is a bird's-eye view showing the structure of the storage unit according to Embodiment 10. 1b is the refrigerator body, 13a is the revolving door of the revolving door storage compartment 10, 200e is the input antenna, and 210e is the output antenna. Unlike Embodiments 1-4 and Embodiment 9, the storage unit in this embodiment has only one revolving door in the revolving door storage compartment 10. The input antenna 200e and the output antenna 210e are installed on the outer front of the revolving door 13a, with the input antenna 200e being installed closer to the front end of the revolving door 13a than the output antenna 210e. The reason why this arrangement is desirable is as described in Embodiment 4.

[0092] As in this embodiment, even if there is only one revolving door in the revolving door storage room 10, the same effects as in Embodiment 4 are obtained. [Examples]

[0093] The structure and operation of the storage unit according to Embodiment 11 of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figures 16 and 17.

[0094] Figure 16 is a bird's-eye view showing the structure of the storage room according to Embodiment 11. 13b is a single revolving door provided in the revolving door storage room 10, 14a is a hinge that serves as a pivot point on the upper left side of the revolving door 13b, 14b is a hinge that serves as a pivot point on the upper right side of the revolving door 13b, 200f and 200g are antennas for receiving goods, 210f is an antenna for outputting goods, 410a is a magnet installed on the lower surface of hinge 14a, 410b is a magnet installed on the lower surface of hinge 14b, 420a is a magnetic sensor installed on the left side of the upper surface of the revolving door 13b, and 420b is a magnetic sensor installed on the right side of the upper surface of the revolving door 13b. 300c is a switch that has the function of switching the operating timing of the antennas in a time-division manner when the internal antenna 100, external antenna 110a, incoming antenna 200f, incoming antenna 200g, and outgoing antenna 210f are to be operated on the same frequency channel.

[0095] Unlike in Example 10, in this embodiment, the revolving door 13b provided in the revolving door storage room 10 is structured to open in either the left or right direction. In other words, although Figure 16 shows the revolving door 13b with the left side as the pivot point and the right side open, the reverse operation is also possible.

[0096] The entry antenna 200f is installed on the left end of the revolving door 13b, the entry antenna 200g is installed on the right end of the revolving door 13b, and the exit antenna 210f is installed in the center position between the left and right sides of the revolving door 13b.

[0097] The magnet 410a and the magnetic sensor 420a are positioned opposite each other when the revolving door 13b is closed. Similarly, the magnet 410b and the magnetic sensor 420b are positioned opposite each other when the revolving door 13b is closed. With this arrangement, when the right side of the revolving door 13b is opened, the distance between the magnet 410b and the magnetic sensor 420b increases, and the voltage output from the magnetic sensor 420b changes, allowing detection that the right side of the revolving door 13b has been opened. Conversely, when the left side of the revolving door 13b is opened, the distance between the magnet 410a and the magnetic sensor 420a increases, and the voltage output from the magnetic sensor 420a changes, allowing detection that the left side of the revolving door 13b has been opened.

[0098] Figure 17 is a table showing the relationship between the operating states of the receiving antennas 200f and 200g and the open / closed state of the revolving door 13b. When the right side of the revolving door 13b is open, the receiving antenna 200f performs the operation to read the RFID tag, and the receiving antenna 200g stops performing the operation to read the RFID tag. When the left side of the revolving door 13b is open, the receiving antenna 200g performs the operation to read the RFID tag, and the receiving antenna 200f stops performing the operation to read the RFID tag. When the revolving door 13b is closed, both the receiving antennas 200f and 200g perform the operation to read the RFID tag. When the revolving door 13b is closed, the system will use the RFID tag reading information from either the receiving antenna 200f or 200g. Therefore, users can select the most convenient receiving antenna position according to the storage location of the food items being placed in or taken out of the refrigerator.

[0099] In this embodiment, since the receiving antennas 200f and 200g are installed at both ends of the revolving door 13b, the receiving antennas are positioned towards the door's leading edge regardless of whether the right or left side of the revolving door 13b is open. This provides the same effect as in Embodiment 4. Furthermore, since the operating states of the receiving antennas 200f and 200g are switched based on the open state of the revolving door 13b, for example, if a user holds an RFID tag over the outgoing antenna 210f while the right side of the revolving door 13b is open, the RFID tag will not be read even if it is mistakenly held over the receiving antenna 200g, thus improving the accuracy of inventory determination.

[0100] In this embodiment, we have described a configuration and operation in which the state of reading RFID tags on the receiving antennas 200f and 200g is switched according to the open / closed state of the revolving door 13b. However, the receiving antennas 200f and 200g may read RFID tags regardless of the open / closed state of the revolving door 13b. In this case, the number of sensors that detect the open / closed state of the revolving door 13b can be reduced, which has the effect of lowering costs.

[0101] Furthermore, although this embodiment describes a structure in which magnet 410a is installed on hinge 14a, magnet 410b is installed on hinge 14b, and magnetic sensors 420a and 420b are installed on revolving door 13, it is also acceptable to install magnets 410a and 410b on revolving door 13b, magnetic sensor 420a on hinge 14a, and magnetic sensor 420b on hinge 14b.

[0102] In this embodiment, magnets 410a and 410b are installed on the upper hinges 14a and 14b that support the revolving door 13b, and magnetic sensors 420a and 420b are installed on the upper surface of the revolving door 13b. However, magnets 410a and 410b may be installed on the lower hinge (not shown) that supports the revolving door 13b, and magnetic sensors 420a and 420b may be installed on the lower surface of the revolving door 13b.

[0103] Furthermore, instead of the magnetic sensors 420a and 420b, capacitive proximity sensors, ultrasonic proximity sensors, optical proximity sensors, etc., may be used as means to detect whether the left or right side of the revolving door 13b is open. In this case, magnets 410a and 410b are not required.

[0104] Alternatively, a method for detecting whether the left or right side of the revolving door 13b is open may be to install an angular velocity sensor on the revolving door 13b and detect the rotation angle of the revolving door 13b. [Examples]

[0105] The structure of the storage facility according to Embodiment 12 of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figure 18.

[0106] Figure 18 is a bird's-eye view showing the structure of the storage unit according to Example 12. 230a and 230b are switchable manual reading antennas (switchable in / out antennas). 300d is a switch that has the function of switching the operating timing of the antennas in a time-division manner when the in-store antenna 100, the out-store antenna 110a, and the switchable manual reading antennas 230a and 230b are operated on the same frequency channel. The rest of the structure is the same as in Example 11.

[0107] The switchable manual reading antennas 230a and 230b are installed on the outer front of the revolving door 13b, with the switchable manual reading antenna 230a being installed to the right of the switchable manual reading antenna 230b. It is desirable that the switchable manual reading antennas 230a and 230b be installed symmetrically with respect to the virtual vertical centerline of the revolving door 13b.

[0108] The operation of the storage unit according to Example 12 will be described.

[0109] When a user places or retrieves food items with RFID tags attached to the revolving door storage compartment 10, they configure the system to link the side of the revolving door 13b that is opened with the action of placing or retrieving the items. For example, they can configure the system to perform a loading action when the right side is opened and a retrieval action when the left side is opened. This configuration can be done using an interface installed on the refrigerator unit or via a smartphone or other device owned by the user. If the user configures the system to open the right side of the revolving door 13b when placing items, the switchable manual reading antenna 230a will function as the loading antenna, and the switchable manual reading antenna 230b will function as the retrieval antenna.

[0110] In this embodiment, depending on the inbound and outbound operations desired by the user, the switchable manual reading antennas 230a and 230b are positioned on the opening end of the revolving door 13b and operate as inbound and outbound antennas, respectively. Therefore, the same effects as in Embodiment 4 are achieved. In addition, the number of antennas can be reduced compared to Embodiment 11, resulting in lower costs. Furthermore, since the operation of the inbound or outbound antenna of the switchable manual reading antennas 230a and 230b is determined and fixed by the user's settings, it is possible to reduce the error of the user holding the RFID tag over an antenna other than the one used for inbound or outbound operations (for example, holding the RFID tag over the outbound antenna when inbound) when inbound or outbound food items with RFID tags attached to the second to fourth drawer door storage compartments 21, 30, and 40.

[0111] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible. For example, although a refrigerator was used as an example of a storage container in each embodiment, other storage containers such as storage shelves or stockers may also be used. In addition, it is possible to replace or add parts of the configuration of one embodiment to the configuration of another embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0112] 1. Refrigerator unit 10. Revolving Door Storage Room 11 Left-side revolving door 12 Right-side revolving door 13 Revolving Doors 14 Hinge 20 First drawer door storage room 21 Second drawer door storage room 30 Third drawer door storage room 40 Fourth drawer door storage room 100 In-cabin antenna 110 External antenna 200 Antenna for vehicle entry 210 Departure Antenna 220 Manual reading antenna 230 Switchable manual reading antenna 300 Switch 400 microphones 410 Magnets 420 Magnetic Sensor 500 History List 510 Inventory List

Claims

1. In a storage facility comprising a revolving door storage room, which is a storage room equipped with a revolving door, and a drawer door storage room, which is equipped with a drawer door, An in-cabin antenna is installed inside the storage facility and is used to determine whether an RFID tag is inside or outside the facility. An external antenna is provided outside the storage facility and is used to determine whether the RFID tag is inside or outside the facility. An entry antenna to which the RFID tag is held when the vehicle enters the premises, The system includes an exit antenna that the RFID tag is held over when the vehicle is being taken out of storage, The system recognizes whether the RFID tag has been placed in the storage compartment based on the operation of the RFID tag being held over the storage antenna and the operation of the drawer door storage compartment being opened and closed. A storage facility characterized in that it recognizes whether the RFID tag has been released from the drawer-door storage compartment by the action of holding the RFID tag over the retrieval antenna and the action of opening and closing the drawer-door storage compartment.

2. In the storage facility described in claim 1, If the RFID tag is held over the receiving antenna during the period between the opening and closing of the revolving door, regardless of the results of the determination using the external antenna and the internal antenna, it is determined that the item has been received into the revolving door storage room. A storage facility characterized in that, if the RFID tag is held over the outbound antenna during the period between the opening and closing of the revolving door, it is determined that an item has been released to the revolving door storage room, regardless of the results of the determination using the external antenna and the internal antenna.

3. In the storage facility described in claim 1, If the last time the RFID tag was read during the period between the opening and closing of the revolving door was by the internal antenna, then it is determined that the RFID tag is inside the storage area. A storage facility characterized in that, if the RFID tag was last read by the external antenna during the period between the opening and closing of the revolving door, it is determined that the RFID tag is outside the facility.

4. In the storage facility described in claim 1, If the drawer door is opened after the RFID tag is held over the receiving antenna, or if the RFID tag is held over the receiving antenna after the drawer door is opened, A storage facility characterized by recording in the inventory list that the RFID tag has been received and that the receiving location is the drawer door storage room.

5. In the storage facility described in claim 4, If the RFID tag is held over the retrieval antenna after the drawer door has been opened, A storage facility characterized by recording in the inventory list that the RFID tag has been issued.

6. In the storage facility described in claim 1, A storage facility further comprising a switch for time-division switching the operation of the internal antenna, the external antenna, the inbound antenna, and the outbound antenna.

7. In the storage facility described in claim 1, The aforementioned internal antenna is installed on the inside of the revolving door storage compartment. A storage facility characterized in that the receiving antenna and the output antenna are provided outside the storage facility.

8. In the storage facility according to claim 7, A storage facility characterized in that the aforementioned receiving antenna and the aforementioned output antenna are provided on the front side of the revolving door.

9. In the storage facility according to claim 7, The aforementioned drawer door storage compartment has an upper drawer door storage compartment and a lower drawer door storage compartment. A storage facility characterized in that the aforementioned receiving antenna and the aforementioned outputting antenna are provided on the front side of the drawer door of the upper drawer door storage compartment.

10. In a storage facility comprising a revolving door storage room, which is a storage room equipped with a revolving door, and a drawer door storage room, which is equipped with a drawer door, An in-cabin antenna is installed inside the storage facility and is used to determine whether an RFID tag is inside or outside the facility. An external antenna is provided outside the storage facility and is used to determine whether the RFID tag is inside or outside the facility. An antenna for both inbound and outbound storage, to which the RFID tag is held when an item is being stored in or out of the drawer door storage compartment, A storage facility characterized by being equipped with a microphone that recognizes voice to identify whether an item is being received or taken out.

Images